Italy: Development Cooperation has been reformed

On 29 August 2014, the new Italian Law on Cooperation General Rules on international development cooperation (L. 11 August 2014 n. 125) entered into force.

Coming after 27 years from the previous law which regulated the matter in question (Law 49/1987), the new Act (Law n. 125/2014) defines the subjects, the tools, the modes of action and the reference principles, on the basis of the changes made over the years in the international community, and it allows, at the same time, an adjustment of the Italian Development Cooperation System to the main models, developed in the partner States of the EU.

The inter-ministerial Committee for development cooperation (Cics), composed of the departments competent in the sphere of cooperation, will be the central structure of the governance of the new cooperation system, and it will guarantee the coherence and coordination of the policies.

According to the vigent Law, the main targets of the new cooperation will focus on:

• poverty eradication;
• reducing inequalities;
• affirming human rights and dignity of individuals;
• conflict prevention;
• supporting peace processes;

These targets will be detailed and specified through the adoption of a triennial programming Document, approved by the Council of Ministers, after obtaining the opinion of the relevant parliamentary committees, by 31 March each year.

Finally, the new Act (Law 125/2014) defines a new management structure and it foresees the establishment of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, which will enhance existing professional skills and will attract new ones.